Maze of the Week #131 - Scarecrow

Maze of the Week #131 features a scarecrow to celebrate Build A Scarecrow Day July 7. I have been doing a lot of animal mazes this year, so this was a departure from that.

Here was my preview image.

Here is the first version of the maze. Glowing red eyes.

Scarecrow Maze

And the alternative version with a new color combination.

Evil Scarecrow Maze

Downloads are available in the comic book style maze section. Come back tomorrow to see what the comic book cover looks like !

Next weeks Maze Preview: Back to the animal kingdom

3 Labyrinths to Visit in Montana

While there are not many labyrinths in Montana (there are just under 20), I was still able to select 3 of the best that are accessible to the public from around the state that I think are worth a visit. If you want a full list of labyrinths in the state check out the Worldwide Labyrinth Finder.


Why visit a Labyrinth ?

Labyrinths are ancient and mysterious symbols that have been used for centuries for meditation, contemplation, and spiritual renewal. They are also a lot of fun to explore! If you're looking for a unique and challenging experience, walk a labyrinth with intention - it often leads to self-discovery. Personally, I like to walk labyrinths between dawn and sunrise or at sunset until dusk, but any time of day works. You may not realize it, but there is probably a labyrinth near where you live. Today we explore…


3 Labyrinths to Visit in montana


1. St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Labyrinth

 

This 7 circuit medieval labyrinth is made from stones and has a wonderful setting next to the community garden. You can read more about the labyrinth on the church website, where I learned that “The base is composed of landscape fabric, asphalt millings, and wood chips and the axis is set up on true north, south, east, and west directions.”

Location: Billings, Montana

Address:
180 24th Street West (you’ll find the labyrinth on Cook Ave)
Billings, Montana 59102
United States


2. Bozeman Public Library Labyrinth

This 8 circuit Chartres style labyrinth made from sandstone and granite is located 300 yards south of the public library. Learn more about it on the library website, including that it “is comprised of reclaimed granite cobble, Montana sandstone, and creeping thyme. Native plantings and landforms create privacy for Labyrinth walkers while preserving views to the Lindley Park hillside and the Bridger Range beyond.”.

Location: Bozeman, Montana

Address:

626 E. Main St.
Bozeman, Montana 59715
United States


3. Friends of the Garden Labyrinth

This absolutely beautiful 7 circuit labyrinth is made in the grass with pathways that are separated by flowers and plants. Easy to find with an entry of Google Maps, or visit the labyrinths Facebook page.

Location: Lewistown, Montana

Address:

Frank Day Park, 4th Ave South
Lewistown, Montana 59457
United States



5 TIPS FOR VISITING A LABYRINTH

  1. Set an intention for your walk so you can walk with purpose. It could be prayer, reflection, meditation, contemplation, or openness.

  2. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking.

  3. Bring water with you, especially if you are visiting on a hot day.

  4. Take your time and enjoy the experience. There is no need to rush through a labyrinth.

  5. Be respectful of other visitors. This includes not making noise and being respectful if walking with other people.



5 BOOKS TO READ ABOUT LABYRINTH WALKING

I wrote a blog post reviewing the following 5 books, each that deals with walking labyrinths. You can check them out yourself at the Amazon links below or read this blog post: 5 Books about the Spiritual Aspect of Labyrinths to learn a little about what each book teaches.

  1. Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool by Dr. Lauren Artress 201 pages. AMZN

  2. Labyrinth : Your Path to Self-Discovery by Tony Christie 312 pages. AMZN

  3. Exploring the Labyrinth: A Guide For Healing and Spiritual Growth by Melissa Gayle West 209 pages AMZN

  4. Walking the Labyrinth: A Place to Pray and Seek God by Travis Scholl 240 pages AMZN

  5. Labyrinths from the Outside In: Walking to Spiritual Insight by Rev Dr Donna Schaper and Rev Dr Carole Ann Camp 187 pages AMZN


If you are interested in more spiritual labyrinth aspects I suggest the following websites:

  1. Lauren Artress website - For coaching, workshops and classes.

  2. Veriditas - The nonprofit labyrinth group founded by Lauren Artress

  3. Worldwide Labyrinth Finder - Find a labyrinth to walk near you, or while on vacation



I am a maze artist but I have never made any mazes from Montana. If you have suggestions - drop me a note. Otherwise here are some mazes of famous buildings:

Taj Mahal Maze

The Louvre Maze

Templo de Sangre de Cristo Maze

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Maze

Using AI to Write Songs about Mazes

I spend a lot of time experimenting with AI. I wrote a series of blog posts about using it to make mazes (testing 12 different text to image generators). Here are the 2 key posts to read from that series:

COMPARISON OF 12 AI GENERATING WEBSITES - WHO DID MAZES THE BEST ?

WHAT I LEARNED USING AI TO MAKE MAZE ART

On a personal level I use 4 different AI websites. I gravitate to the same 2 for text, and 2 for images, but I am always open to testing something new. For fun, I wanted to test the songwriting ability of AI and here are 2 maze themed songs that I got:

Song 1, was created using Perplexity AI. We got a love song, which actually is pretty good. I can hear this when I read it and it sounds good,

Verse 1:
In this labyrinth of time, I'm lost and I can't find
The way to your heart, it's a puzzle in my mind
Wandering through the twists and turns, I search for a sign
But in this endless maze, your love is so hard to find

Chorus:
Lost in a maze of emotions, I'm trapped in this endless sea
Hoping to find my way to you, and set my heart free
Every path that I take, leads to another dead end
In this maze of love, I'll keep searching, my heart won't bend

Verse 2:
The walls are closing in, and the echoes fill the air
I'm reaching out for you, but it feels like you're not there
I'll keep pushing through the darkness, and the uncertainty
In this intricate maze, I'll find a way to set my love free

Chorus:
Lost in a maze of emotions, I'm trapped in this endless sea
Hoping to find my way to you, and set my heart free
Every path that I take, leads to another dead end
In this maze of love, I'll keep searching, my heart won't bend

Bridge:
I'll navigate the corridors, and I'll break down every wall
I'll conquer this maze, and I'll give it my all
For love is a journey, with obstacles in between
But in this intricate maze, your love is the sweetest dream

Chorus:
Lost in a maze of emotions, I'm trapped in this endless sea
Hoping to find my way to you, and set my heart free
Every path that I take, leads to another dead end
In this maze of love, I'll keep searching, my heart won't bend

And now using Google Bard with the same prompt we got a much different song. When I read this I hear metal. Also a good song.

(Verse 1)

Twisted halls and shadowed doors, a labyrinthine evermore

Wind whispers secrets through the cracks, of paths that turn and never back

Footsteps echo, soft and slow, a heart that hammers to and fro

Lost in the maze, a winding quest, to find the center, find some rest

(Chorus)

Oh, the maze, a tangled mind, where choices twist and leave you blind

Every corner, every bend, another puzzle without end

But listen close, a guiding thread, a whisper in the heart instead

It calls you on, through fear and doubt, to find your way, to rise above

(Verse 2)

Dead ends loom, a chilling sight, but shadows dance with hidden light Illusions flicker, play their game, to trap the soul, to steal the name

But courage holds, a steady flame, to light the path, pronounce your name

The walls will shift, the ground will churn, but hope remains, a fire to burn

(Chorus)

Oh, the maze, a tangled mind, where choices twist and leave you blind

Every corner, every bend, another puzzle without end

But listen close, a guiding thread, a whisper in the heart instead

It calls you on, through fear and doubt, to find your way, to rise above

(Bridge)

The air grows thick, the way unclear, but memories like diamonds appear

Each twist and turn, a lesson learned, a strength that builds, a spirit yearned

The walls recede, the path unfolds, a tapestry of stories told

And in the heart, a compass gleams, to lead you out of haunting dreams

(Chorus)

Oh, the maze, a tangled mind, where choices twist and leave you blind

Every corner, every bend, another puzzle without end

But listen close, a guiding thread, a whisper in the heart instead

It calls you on, through fear and doubt, to find your way, to rise above

(Outro)

Step out the maze, into the light, the victory of conquering the night

The path behind begins to fade, a lesson learned, a choice displayed

The maze remains, within, without, a reminder of the battles fought

But with each step, your spirit grows, and through the maze, your wisdom flows

So that was my song creating experiment. If you want to record these, go for it ! Always interesting to see what AI comes up with and I shouldn’t have been surprised the outputs were so different !

Similar posts you might like:

GETTING LOST IN THE ART: A LOOK AT THE BEST ALBUM COVERS FEATURING MAZES AND LABYRINTHS

LOST IN THE MELODIES: EXPLORING THE BEST SONGS NAMED LABYRINTH